Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Identify These NBA Finals MVPs?

J.P. Naomi

Image: NickS / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The sound of the buzzer echoes through the arena, the referees blow their whistle and the clock starts to count down. It's game seven of the NBA Finals. Are you ready to give it all you've got? It's time to leave your blood, sweat and tears on the court! OK, never mind the blood. But bring on the sweat and tears. It's time to see how well you know these NBA Finals Most Valuable Players!

Since the 1969 NBA Finals, a Most Valuable Player award has been given to the player who left it all out on the court. The player is selected by a panel of 11 members of the media who cast their vote after the series is over. From Shaquille O'Neal to Kobe Bryant, and Jerry West to Larry Bird, no player in the league has won the honor more than the legend himself, Michael Jordan. In each of his six championship series, he was voted MVP each and every time! So now we want to know, can you name the others?

Get your sweatband on and your laces tied up. We're putting you to the test with this ultimate NBA Finals MVP quiz! Good luck, and remember, the team may win, but there can only be one MVP!

Wiki Commons by D. Myles Cullen

He is a 15-season player and six-time Finals MVP. Who is this?

Dwyane Wade

Michael Jordan

Moses Malone

Wes Unseld

Regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Michael Jordan is a six-time NBA Finals MVP! He won the award in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

Wiki Commons by Steve Lipofsky

Can you name this most valuable player who later became head coach of the Indiana Pacers?

Larry Bird

Wes Unseld

Dirk Nowitzki

Jo Jo White

Larry Bird is a three-time NBA champion, and two-time Finals MVP. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1979 - 1992, and later coached the Indiana Pacers from 1997 - 2000.

Wiki Commons by Neon Tommy

The first overall pick of the 1979 draft, which NBA MVP is this?

Jo Jo White

John Havlicek

Magic Johnson

Kawhi Leonard

Magic Johnson played with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979 - 1991, and again in 1996. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. He later coached the Lakers in 1994 and today serves as the President of Basketball Operations for the team.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

What is the name of this MVP who hails from Akron, Ohio?

Kawhi Leonard

Bill Walton

Kevin Durant

LeBron James

Although he is still active, LeBron James is already considered one of the greatest basketball player of all time. He is a three-time NBA champion and each of those times was named Finals MVP.

Wiki Commons by Sgt. Joseph A. Lee

A career-long Lakers player, can you identify this MVP?

Kevin Durant

Tony Parker

James Worthy

Kobe Bryant

Did you know that Kobe Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers? He won five championships with the Lakers and was named Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010.

Wiki Commons by Steve Lipofsky

Do you recognize this NBA Finals star who played his career as a guard?

James Worthy

Dennis Johnson

Rick Barry

Cedric Maxwell

Nicknamed DJ, Dennis Johnson played in the NBA from 1976 - 1990 with the SuperSonics, Suns and Celtics. He was named Finals MVP in 1979 and ended his career with a total of 15,535 points.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

He stands over 7 feet tall. Which most valuable NBA Finals player is this?

Cedric Maxwell

Shaquille O'Neal

Chauncey Billups

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

At 7 feet, 1 inch tall, Shaquille O'Neal played for six different teams throughout his 19-year career. He is a four-time NBA champion, winning Finals MVP three of those times.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

A graduate of Wake Forest, who is the NBA MVP seen here?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Michael Jordan

Tim Duncan

Paul Pierce

Tim Duncan played his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs. He is a five-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP and two-time League MVP.

Wiki Commons by Fred Palumbo

Who is this NBA MVP legend who began his career as a Harlem Globetrotter?

Wilt Chamberlain

Paul Pierce

Hakeem Olajuwon

Bill Walton

Wilt Chamberlain began his career as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 1958. He later played for the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakes with which he was named Finals MVP in 1972.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

A member of the "Big Three," what is the name of this NBA MVP?

Dennis Johnson

Cedric Maxwell

Paul Pierce

Willis Reed

Paul Pierce spent the first 15 years of his 19-year career with the Boston Celtics. In 2008, he not only won the NBA championship with the team, but was also named Finals MVP. He retired in 2017 with a career total of 26,397 points.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

This Finals MVP was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1997. Who is he?

Willis Reed

Moses Malone

Chauncey Billups

John Havlicek

Chauncey Billups played 17 seasons in the NBA. Throughout his career, he played with seven different teams, winning the championship and Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

Who is the second overall pick of the 1965 draft and 1975 Finals MVP seen here?

John Havlicek

Tony Parker

Kevin Durant

Rick Barry

Rick Barry is best known for his underhand free throw shooting technique. In 1975, he won the NBA championship and Finals MVP award with the Golden State Warriors, and in 1996, hewas named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

Wiki Commons by University of Houston Digital Library

Which player ended his career with the Toronto Raptors but was named Finals MVP with the Houston Rockets?

Kevin Durant

Hakeem Olajuwon

LeBron James

Larry Bird

Hakeem Olajuwon was selected as the first overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets. He played with the Rockets until 2001, winning two championships and earning the title of Finals MVP both times.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

What is the name of this Finals MVP who played college ball at Arizona?

Andre Iguodala

Larry Bird

Paul Pierce

Bill Walton

A shooting guard and small forward, Andre Iguodala currently plays for the Golden State Warriors. He has won the NBA championship with the Warriors three times, and was named Finals MVP in 2015, his first championship season.

NBA

A member of the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, which 1990 Finals MVP is this?

Bill Walton

Dirk Nowitzki

Jo Jo White

Isiah Thomas

Isiah Thomas played his entire 13-year career with the Detroit Pistons. With NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, Thomas earned the Finals MVP award in 1990. He finished his career in 1994 with 18,822 points.

NBA

His No. 33 was retired by UNC Charlotte. Do you recognize this MVP?

Jo Jo White

Cedric Maxwell

Kawhi Leonard

Joe Dumars

Born in Kinston, North Carolina, Cedric Maxwell was nicknamed Cornbread. He grew up to play 11 seasons in the NBA and won two championships with the Boston Celtics, in 1981 and 1984. He was named NBA Finals MVP in 1981 and his No. 31 was retired by the Celtics.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

Who is the 1977 Finals MVP from the Portland Trail Blazers seen here?

Bill Walton

Joe Dumars

Kobe Bryant

Shaquille O'Neal

Bill Walton was named Finals MVP in 1977, the year he won the NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers. He would later win the championship with the Boston Celtics in 1986.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Drafted by the Miami Heat in 2003, which most valuable NBA Finals player is this?

Shaquille O'Neal

Wilt Chamberlain

Dwyane Wade

Andre Iguodala

Dwyane Wade has been a part of three championship teams. He won in 2006, 2012 and 2013 - the first of which was the sweetest. That's when he was named Finals MVP.

Wiki Commons by Steve Jenner

You're doing great. Who is this famous player who spent 20 years in the NBA?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Andre Iguodala

James Worthy

Dwyane Wade

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. in New York City in 1947. He played 20 seasons in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. He won six NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards during his career.

Wiki Commons by J.smith

What is the name of this two-time NBA MVP?

Dwyane Wade

LeBron James

Kevin Durant

Michael Jordan

Kevin Durant began his career with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. He later won back-to-back NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and 2017. He was named Finals MVP both times.

Wiki Commons by New York Knicks

A native of Bernice, Louisiana, who is the NBA Finals MVP seen here?

Michael Jordan

Chauncey Billups

Rick Barry

Willis Reed

Willis Reed was the eighth overall pick of the 1964 NBA draft. He played his entire 10-year career with the New York Knicks, winning championships in 1970 and 1973 and earning the title of Finals MVP both times.

Wiki Commons by Zeke Smith

A career-long Lakers small forward, what is the name of the MVP seen here?

Rick Barry

James Worthy

Cedric Maxwell

Isiah Thomas

James Worthy was the first overall pick of the 1982 NBA draft. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with whom he won three championships in 1985, 1987 and 1988. He was named Finals MVP in 1988.

NBA

Who is the NBA MVP who is just 6 feet, 3 inches tall and seen in this photo?

Joe Dumars

Isiah Thomas

Magic Johnson

Dennis Johnson

Joe Dumars played his entire career with the Detroit Pistons as both a shooting guard and point guard. He helped lead the Pistons to consecutive championships in 1989 and 1990, being named Finals MVP in 1989! His No. 4 was retired by the Pistons.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

Nicknamed Hondo, can you identify this MVP?

John Havlicek

Dennis Johnson

Shaquille O'Neal

Joe Dumars

John Havlicek was drafted by both the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Browns (yes, NFL!) in 1962? He chose to make basketball his career and helped lead the Celtics to eight championships between 1962 and 1978. He was named Finals MVP in 1974.

Wiki Commons by Cpl. Lameen Witter

Not only was he Mr. Basketball USA in 1974, he was also a Finals MVP in 1983. Who is he?

Joe Dumars

Moses Malone

Dirk Nowitzki

Jo Jo White

Moses Malone had a 21-year career in both the ABA and NBA. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall, he won the NBA championship with the 76ers in 1983, earning the coveted award of Finals MVP.

Wiki Commons by SD Dirk

What is the name of this MVP who played college ball at San Diego State from 2009 - 2011?

Jo Jo White

Tony Parker

Kawhi Leonard

Kevin Durant

Kawhi Leonard was the 15th overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft. He helped lead the San Antonio Spurs to their championship in 2014 and was named MVP of the Finals series.

Wiki Commons by Christopher Johnson

Do you recognize this NBA Finals star who was born in Bruges, Belgium?

Kevin Durant

Andre Iguodala

Tony Parker

Kobe Bryant

William Anthony Parker Jr. played professional basketball in France before he was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in 2001. He helped the Spurs win four championships in just 11 years. He was named Finals MVP in 2007 and is now a member of the Charlotte Hornets.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

You're almost there. Who is this famous MVP, currently serving as an LA Clippers executive board member?

Kobe Bryant

Tim Duncan

Chauncey Billups

Jerry West

Jerry West was a point guard and shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1960 - 1974. He helped lead the team to a championship in 1972, but that wasn't the year of his MVP honor. He received that in 1969, the year in which the Lakers played and lost the championship to the Boston Celtics.

Wiki Commons by unknown author

This University of Kansas player later became an NBA Finals MVP. Can you name him?

Jo Jo White

Chauncey Billups

Paul Pierce

Willis Reed

Jo Jo White won two championships with the Boston Celtics - one in 1974 and the other in 1976. He was named MVP in 1976 and his No. 10 was later retired by the Boston Celtics. His No. 15 was also retired by the University of Kansas.

Wiki Commons by Malcolm W. Emmons

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988, who is the NBA Finals MVP seen here?

Willis Reed

Wes Unseld

Magic Johnson

Wilt Chamberlain

Wes Unseld played his entire 20-year career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets. In 1978, he won the NBA championship with the Bullets and was also named Finals MVP. He later became the head coach of the Bullets from 1988 - 1994.

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

Last question! Can you name the native German player seen here?

Wilt Chamberlain

Hakeem Olajuwon

Dwyane Wade

Dirk Nowitzki

Dirk Nowitzki was the ninth overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks but was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks with which he won the title championship in 2011, the same year he was named Finals MVP.

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